The language maps of Ukraine that we see on the news are misleading. Not all Ukrainians who speak Russian are promoting separation of their provinces from Ukraine. In fact, most are Ukraine-loving people who happen to grow up speaking the Russian language.

The map on the right does not account for the fact that people throughout Ukraine speak Russian as well as Ukrainian. They are bi-lingual. 90% of the people in Kyiv (Kiev) speak Russian, not 30% as in the graphic.

I recently saw an interview of the Ukrainian military personnel in Crimea as they were being deported back to mainland Ukraine. Although they all spoke in Russian, they are all fiercely loyal to Ukraine and ready to sacrifice themselves for their country!

We should not let a few outspoken advocates of cessation mislead us into thinking the eastern provinces want to join Russia. It just isn’t true!